Preview

Although it is currently still a UCI category 2.4 event, Le Tour de Langkawi
carries one of the largest purses in world cycling - RM 1.5 Million ($US
400,000). The 12 stage, 1606 km event begins on January 26 this year with
a 9.2 km time trial around Langkawi island. One day prior to this, there
will be a criterium held around Langkawi with many of the Tour riders
down to start, but this will not count in the overall.

Many new stages are introduced this year, mainly around the west coast
to support Perak and Selangor in their tourism campaign. One of the
hardest obstacles of the tour will be a 49 km climb on Stage 4, between
Lumut and Tanah Rata, in the Cameron Highlands. However, this year's
tour will be more balanced in terms of climbing and flat stages, according
to race organiser Encik Wan Lokman Dato' Paduka Wan Ibrahim.

The longest stage will be the Stage Eight from Mersing to Melaka with
a total distance of 248km. The penultimate stage 11 is a flat 127km
distance, with a finishing circuit of five loops around Shah Alam before
heading for the finishing line.